The Los Angeles Lakers have undertaken a substantial roster reconstruction this offseason, focusing on building around star guard Luka Doncic. Despite remaining needs and some questionable decisions, the moves are considered a success given the team's goals and options entering the summer.
Key Offseason Acquisitions
The Lakers retained homegrown talent Austin Reaves, signing the 28-year-old to a four-year, $180 million contract, a deal intended to keep him with the team through his prime years. A major priority was addressed with the acquisition of 7-foot-2 center Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz in a sign-and-trade. This move ends a prolonged effort to bring Kessler to Los Angeles and pairs him with Doncic and Reaves.
Complementary additions include Quentin Grimes on a four-year, $60 million deal, Sandro Mamukelashvili for four years and $52 million, and Collin Sexton on a two-year, $19 million contract. The team also signed Ziaire Williams to a one-year, $2.8 million deal and Matisse Thybulle to a one-year, $3.3 million contract, aiming to address the need for wing players with potential to exceed their veteran minimum salaries. Further depth could come from first-round draft pick Cameron Carr, Kevon Looney on a one-year, $3.9 million deal, and Jaden Hardy, acquired from the Wizards.
These moves collectively aim to make the Lakers younger, more athletic, improve their perimeter defense, and add bench scoring. However, these acquisitions come at the cost of significant departures.
Significant Roster Departures
LeBron James has departed the Lakers after eight seasons, signing with the Philadelphia 76ers as a free agent. Other notable players not returning for the 2026-27 season include Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton, and Luke Kennard, among eight players from the previous season's roster. The team lost James, their former best player, and Smart, their top defender from the 2025-26 season. The departures also include Ayton, who could have provided depth at center, and the sharpshooting duo of Hachimura and Kennard.
The departure of this experience and proven production is viewed as a necessary sacrifice to fully commit to the Doncic era. The team is prioritizing building a roster with potential for future growth rather than relying on short-term fixes.
Ongoing Roster Moves
The Lakers are reportedly still interested in unrestricted free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga, who could fill the team's remaining significant need for a starting-caliber wing. They may also seek to add another backup center for Kessler. While these potential moves might not close the gap with the top Western Conference teams, the Lakers are not finished with their offseason activity. They will need to trim their roster to comply with league rules before the regular season begins.
President of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka is credited with constructing a roster that marks the offseason as successful. The price paid for Kessler, including two first-round pick swaps and unprotected first-round picks, is deemed in line with his market value. Kessler's projected salary for 2026-27 places him among the top-paid centers in the league, a justifiable cost for a player with All-Defensive potential.
Reaves' contract is also seen as reasonable, given he could have secured more lucrative offers elsewhere. While long-term deals for Grimes and Mamukelashvili have drawn criticism, they represent an investment in players the Lakers believe can perform at a high level during their prime.
Despite the significant roster changes, the Lakers anticipate having avenues to improve the team beyond the summer. While not positioned to be immediate title contenders, the team's present and future outlook is considered brighter than at the conclusion of their previous season, solidifying the past three months as a successful period for the franchise.